::A Geek in Korea::

I went to get my haircut today after work. It’s because I am traveling. I had some long hair going on for a while now, and I badly needed a trim. I went to the salon I had been to with my wife previously. Since she wasn’t there to help me with the cut, I told them, “Cut my hair.”  I called her so she could give them the details for me. I don’t really care about my hair looks, as long as I don’t end up bald.  She’s got all these things she thinks are important about length that I can’t articulate correctly to a hair dresser. I just leave it to her.

This time, I had my hair cut in total silence. The woman didn’t try any smalltalk. That’s fine with me. I’m used to the “stare into the mirror as they cut your hair” aspect of the experience, but the small talk in Korean isn’t usually my strong suit.

After the cut, I got passed off to this young man so that he could shampoo and dry my hair. This is the first time the assistant to the stylist was a man. He chatted and asked me where I was from. He guessed Canada. I told him I was from the States, and he started asking me about baseball in English. Baseball is one of the top “Most Boring Topics that Exist” subjects of small talk ever. He said he really loved baseball. I was willing to indulge his chance for small talk since he was attempting to speak to me in English.

I told him I preferred Korean National Soccer games. He was very surprised. I explained I was here during the 2001 World Cup, and that I liked watching Korean and English soccer on television. He was surprised. “Americans like Baseball, Football, Basketball, and sometimes Hockey. You like soccer?”

“Yes, I do, I’ve been a fan of Korean soccer since the World Cup,” I answered.

He said that Koreans like the National Soccer Team, but don’t really follow the K-League games. I agreed, and said that Korean baseball is much more closely followed than Korean soccer leagues.

“Oh, you know that? Wow, you are much more like a Korean than an American you know? Americans don’t follow soccer, and they like to watch Baseball.”

He then asked me as he finished drying my hair, “So, when you called that person on the phone, was that your girlfriend?”

“No, it was my wife. I’ve been here a long time, remember?”

He was surprised. He walked up to the counter with me. I asked how much everything cost and they told me I spoke good Korean. (Sigh). I humbly disagreed with the false modesty I’ve copied from far too many shy Koreans and left.